The year-end school holidays for Singapore primary and secondary schools run from Saturday 21 November to Thursday 31 December 2026, according to the Ministry of Education. The school year ends on Friday 20 November, which gives families about six weeks to fill.
This guide organises the events with published dates and prices into a timeline, so parents can see what is free, what costs money and where children get special treatment. Dates and prices are as reported in the sources listed, and families should check each organiser before booking.
Official dates
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Last day of school year | Friday 20 November 2026 |
| Year-end holidays | Saturday 21 November to Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 |
These dates come from the Ministry of Education's 2026 school terms and holidays announcement. Junior colleges and other institutions have separate calendars, so check the relevant school if your child is not in a primary or secondary school.
A timeline of confirmed events
| Dates | Event | Cost | Children's notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 to 22 November | Singapore Writers Festival | Programmes from S$5; pass S$30 | SWF Playground for ages 12 and under; Youth Fringe for ages 13 to 25 |
| 26 to 29 November | Affordable Art Fair, F1 Pit Building | Adult S$24 advance, S$28 fair week | Under 16s enter free with an Under 16s ticket and an accompanying adult |
| 27 to 29 November | Christmas Together, Marina Bay Sands | Free | Activities for children reported by Time Out |
| 4 to 6 December | Singapore Comic Con, Marina Bay Sands | S$38 and up | Kids under 8 free, up to two per paying adult |
| From 7 November to early 2027 | Pokémon at Changi Airport and Jewel | Free for the main programme | Experience Zone, meet and greets |
| 31 December | Marina Bay Countdown | Details not confirmed | Check official announcements |
Sources for this table are the Singapore Writers Festival coverage by CNA Lifestyle, the Arts Republic listing for the art fair, Time Out Singapore for Christmas Together, the Singapore Comic Con ticket page, and Changi Guide for Pokémon. The Orchard Road Christmas light-up is not in the table because its 2026 dates were not confirmed.
Free and low-cost options
Christmas Together
Entry is free and the event runs from 10am to 9pm at Hall F of the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Registration is optional but helps avoid queues, according to Time Out. The organiser lists a 70,000 sq ft village, with workshops and live performances. Workshop prices were not confirmed.
Pokémon at Changi and Jewel
The main PokéXciting! weekend on 7 and 8 November is free, according to Changi Guide, and the festive village and decorations continue after that. Canopy Park at Jewel charges entry fees, so check the price before you add it to a plan.
Writers Festival children's programming
SWF Playground is aimed at children aged 12 and under and includes a live drawing battle and a comics workshop. A Bring Your 'Chou Chou' Day is for children aged four to six. These run in the festival period from 13 to 22 November, which overlaps the first two days of the holidays and the days before. Check each programme's price and age guidance.
Paid options worth planning
Singapore Comic Con
Kids under 8 enter free and up to two can accompany each paying adult. A one-day ticket is S$38 and a two-day ticket is S$68. For a family with children over 8, each child needs a paid ticket, so for two adults and two older children, a one-day outing at S$38 each would cost S$152 before any booking fee, on the listed prices.
Affordable Art Fair
Children under 16 enter free with an Under 16s ticket and an accompanying adult who holds a ticket or invitation. The adult price is S$24 in advance until 22 November. This could suit a family with older children who like art, though it is aimed at buyers and may not hold the attention of younger ones. Check the fair's activities for children.
Sample family budgets
These use only published prices and exclude transport, food and booking fees.
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Christmas Together and Pokémon at Changi | Free entry for both, subject to registration and any paid add-ons |
| Comic Con for two adults and one child under 8 | S$76 for two one-day adult tickets, child free |
| Art fair for two adults and one child under 16 | S$48 for two advance adult tickets, child free with an Under 16s ticket |
Prices could change, so confirm them on the organiser's page.
Planning around crowds
The first weekend of the holidays, 21 and 22 November, falls just after the school year ends, and the Christmas Together weekend follows. The research did not find crowd data, so any prediction about busy days is an expectation. Free events on weekends are likely to attract more families, and weekday visits may be calmer. This is a planning assumption.
Planning around the weather
Singapore's weather is changeable, so keep an indoor backup. Events at Marina Bay Sands and the Sands Expo & Convention Centre are indoors, while light-ups and outdoor walks are weather-dependent. The Singapore History Gallery at the National Museum is an indoor option that is free for citizens and PRs, according to Time Out, and the museum's remaining galleries are due to reopen in early 2027.
Things to confirm before booking
- Whether tickets include a booking fee.
- Age cut-offs for free entry, which differ between events.
- Whether the child needs a ticket, a registration or only an accompanying adult.
- Opening hours and last entry for each event.
- Whether workshops need separate booking.
- The Orchard Road Christmas light-up dates, which are not confirmed.
How to use this guide
- Mark the official holiday dates in your calendar.
- Pick one event per weekend rather than trying to attend everything.
- Register for free events early, particularly Christmas Together.
- Buy paid tickets before price steps, such as the art fair's move to fair-week pricing on 23 November.
- Keep a weather backup for each outdoor plan.
FAQs
When do the year-end school holidays start?
Saturday 21 November 2026, and they end on Thursday 31 December 2026.
Which events are free?
Christmas Together and the main Pokémon programme at Changi are free to enter. The Singapore Writers Festival has paid and free programmes.
Do children need tickets for Comic Con?
Children under 8 are free, up to two per paying adult. Older children need a ticket.
Is the Affordable Art Fair suitable for children?
Under 16s enter free with an Under 16s ticket and an accompanying adult. Check suitability for your child.
Are the Orchard Road lights on during the holidays?
Probably, based on last year's dates, but the 2026 dates were not confirmed.
Register early for the free events, buy paid tickets before prices rise, and leave one flexible day each week for weather or tired children.
